Throughout June, the coveted Clippers head coaching job was as hot a topic in Littleton and Lowry as it was in Los Angeles.

First, Nuggets coach George Karl was connected to the job. Then, in the days after Karl was let go, Nuggets coaching candidates Lionel Hollins and Brian Shaw were also considered candidates for the Clippers job.

Sunday, however, there finally was clarity. The Clippers agreed to hire Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, according to national reports. That is good news for the Nuggets, because now they aren't in competition with the Clippers for Shaw, an Indiana Pacers assistant, or for Hollins, the former Memphis Grizzlies coach.

The Nuggets interviewed former Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro on Saturday night, but Shaw and Hollins are considered the front-runners for the Denver job heading into what should be an eventful week. In addition to a possible coaching hire by the Nuggets, the NBA draft is Thursday — a night often highlighted by trades. Denver has one pick, No. 27 overall.

National reports confirmed the Clippers will pick up the remaining three-year, $21 million contract Rivers had with Boston. The Celtics will receive a 2015 first-round pick from the Clippers as compensation and release Rivers from his deal.

The Nuggets offered Boston a first-round pick for the chance to hire Rivers. But when Boston turned down that deal, the Nuggets quickly focused on Shaw and Hollins, one of whom who could replace Karl this week.

CBSsports.com reported that the NBA will approve the Rivers trade, but not any subsequent trade involving Boston forward Kevin Garnett. The NBA would view any such trade as disallowable under the collective bargaining agreement, which does not allow players to be exchanged in any deal involving coaches.

According to ESPN, the Clippers believe that acquiring Rivers will convince star point guard Chris Paul to stay with the team and sign a five-year max contract. Paul is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next week.

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